Curtis Blaydes VS Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Curtis Blaydes earned a unanimous decision victory over Waldo Cortes-Acosta (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) in a heavyweight bout at Noche UFC in Glendale, Arizona on September 12, 2026. Blaydes dictated the pace throughout all three rounds with relentless takedown attempts, successfully putting Cortes-Acosta on the canvas multiple times and controlling from back position or along the cage fence. Cortes-Acosta managed occasional escapes and showed his jab at range, but could not sustain enough offensive output to sway the judges. The crowd at Desert Diamond Arena grew audibly frustrated with the grappling-heavy approach, though Blaydes' consistent wrestling proved too methodical for Cortes-Acosta to overcome.

Curtis Blaydes, the UFC's most accomplished title-less heavyweight, looks to bounce back after a wild decision loss to Josh Hokit that earned a Fight of the Night bonus but no win, while Waldo Cortes-Acosta returns from a setback against Alexander Volkov. Both men sit just outside the heavyweight title picture and can't afford another loss, pitting Blaydes's elite volume wrestling against Cortes-Acosta's nine-knockout finishing power.